I am delighted to be guest editor of this issue of Network Industries Quarterly-Turkey, entitled “Electric Vehicle Ecosystem in Turkey: Emerging Issues and Future Outlook”.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are an emerging technology in today’s transportation industry. While car manufacturers have relocated their resources to design electrical models, governments have considered electrification in transportation as an effective tool to decarbonize their economies.
In Turkey, the number of imported EVs on the roads has been increasing despite a discouraging tax policy. Private firms – led mainly by energy companies – have started to build their commercial charging network. Moreover, Turkey has been prepared for its locally produced EV, which is expected to be on the roads by the 100th anniversary of the republic – in 2023.
In this context, this issue presents four articles related to the EV ecosystem and mentions emerging issues and future outlooks.
First, I try to set the stage by introducing the basic economics of the EV ecosystem and emphasize the need for a public policy to increase EV penetration. I mention the feedback loop that increases the economic value of the ecosystem between the spread of EVs and the availability of charging infrastructure. I argue that regulations and incentive designs should be used to manage this feedback loop.
Saygın, Aksoy and Tör review the global developments in the EV market and elaborates on the key issues for a local EV market for Turkey in view of its energy system implications. The authors argue that system-wide benefits of transport sector transformation with the power sector need to be understood. For them, while EV deployment would benefit from a more renewable power sector, smart charging of EVs would also contribute to a better-managed distribution grid and the integration of higher wind and solar shares at the transmission side.
Ardıyok, İkiler and I examine the status of charging infrastructure in the EU and then analyze the current state of EV charging infrastructure in Turkey, considering the legal and practical developments. We point out that decisions taken on the development of the relevant project prevent the progress of EVs and charging infrastructures. Although developments are continuing rapidly, more progress must be made to meet the standards of EU countries.
Finally, Altan and Canbeyli assess the recent trends in EV and autonomous driving from a regulatory and market intelligence perspective. They argue that it is essential to understand EV and autonomous driving concepts that come with a clear case of Schumpeterian creative destruction.
Emin Köksal
Assoc. Prof. of Economics, Bahçeşehir University
